Have you recently had a minor accident and wondered if you’ve broken a bone? And if you have, what treatment would you need to heal your bone fracture?

This article will answer these questions and provide information on bone fracture treatment and care.

How Can I Tell if I Have a Bone Fracture?
Broken bones, or bone fractures, are injuries commonly resulting from accidents like falling or being hit by an object or stress from physical activities like running. Anyone is at risk of fracturing a bone, but those with osteoporosis, a medical condition where bones become weak, are more likely to experience this.

The most common signs of bone fracture are:

• Pain
• Swelling or tenderness
• Deformity or bumps
• Inability to move the injured part

However, if one of these signs is missing, you might easily dismiss the idea that you’ve broken a bone. Especially if you just got into a minor accident.

So, how can you tell if you have a bone fracture?

A medical diagnosis will confirm whether or not you are indeed suffering from a bone fracture, and your treatment will also depend on the result of your diagnosis.

You might think if it’s minor, you don’t need treatment. However, there’s a catch: untreated bone fractures can result in severe infections or long-term joint problems. So getting a bone fracture diagnosis and receiving the proper treatment is always best.

Where Should I Get Diagnosed for a Bone Fracture?
Most people might rush to the ER for a bone fracture diagnosis and treatment. However, depending on how severe your bone fracture is, your best bet is to visit an urgent care centre instead!

Related post: Should I Use Urgent Care or the ER?

Many conditions that aren’t critical and life-threatening but need urgent medical attention, such as a bone fracture, can be diagnosed and treated in an urgent care centre.

If you live in Lincoln, CA, or Granite Bay, CA, and you need to get a bone fracture diagnosis and treatment, you can visit our urgent care centre or contact us for more information.

When you visit our urgent care centre, our in-house x-ray technology will confirm if you have a bone fracture and show how damaged your bones are. In cases where more detailed imaging tests are needed, we will refer you for an MRI, CT Scan, or Bone Scan.

What bone fracture treatment would I need?
Let’s say you’ve been diagnosed with a bone fracture; what treatment would you need? It depends on the level of damage to your bones.

The most common treatment for a mild bone fracture is immobilization, which involves putting you in a splint or cast. A splint is worn for about three to five weeks, while a cast is likely longer, typically between six to eight weeks. In both cases, you’ll also need follow-up x-rays as part of your bone fracture care to ensure that your bones are healing properly.

If the bone fracture is more severe, the following treatments might be recommended:

• Closed reduction is a non-surgical procedure used to realign displaced bones. After the procedure, patients are put in a splint or cast.
• Bone fracture surgery. Surgery might be needed if the bone damage is more severe and a closed reduction isn’t enough. Different techniques are available, and a surgeon will determine the best option for their patients.

How do I care for my bone fracture after treatment, and when will it heal?
Depending on how severe your bone fracture is and how well you follow your doctor’s advice, healing time may take weeks to several months. You must do the recommended follow-up care if you want your bone fracture to heal as quickly as possible.

Ensure rest and limit the use of the injured body part. To speed up your bone fracture healing, you can also try:

• Exercise. Exercising under a doctor’s supervision can improve blood flow to the injured part, help rebuild muscle around it, and speed up bone fracture healing. Make sure to speak to your doctor or practitioner first, as exercise may only be appropriate at certain stages of the healing process.
• Take supplements. Protein, antioxidants, and particular vitamins and minerals help rebuild and heal the bones. Taking supplements may help speed up your bone fracture healing.
• Avoid smoking. Studies show that smoking harms the healing of the tibia, the larger bone inside the lower leg. Although there is no evidence yet that smoking delays the healing of bones, it’s best to avoid smoking to speed up your bone fracture healing.

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you start to feel intense pain that doesn’t get away with pain relievers after your treatment.

If you live in Lincoln, CA, or Granite Bay, CA, visit our urgent care centre for your bone fracture treatment and follow-up care or contact us with questions and to learn more. Let us help you save time and money and treat you with excellent care.